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Robert Cavanaugh


Ph.D Candidate, Communication Sciences and Disorders
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
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Last updated on 2022-03-16


I’m a fourth-year Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Pittsburgh. I’m also a clinical speech-language pathologist. My research emphasizes quantitative methods and open science in pursuit of improving treatment outcomes and research translation in aphasia rehabilitation.

Education

PhD Candidate, Communication Science and Disorders

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

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2018 —

M.S. Speech and Hearing Sciences

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

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2015

  • Thesis: Working Memory Capacity and Subjective Communication
    Difficulties in High Level Aphasia

B.A. Communication Science and Disorders

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

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2013

Appointments & Positions

Graduate Student Researcher

Language Rehab and Cognition Lab
University of Pittsburgh
PI: William S. Evans

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2018 —

Graduate Research Assistant, WOC

Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

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2018 —

NRSA TL1 Predoctoral Fellow

Institute for Clinical Research Education
University of Pittsburgh
TL1TR001858 (PI: Kraemer)

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2019 — 2021

Graduate Research Assistant

Center for Aphasia and Related Disorders
UNC - Chapel Hill
PI: Katarina Haley

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2013 — 2015

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Eye and Ear Institute
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
PI: Patrick Sparto

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2010 — 2013

Clinical Training

Speech-Langauge Pathologist II

Carolinas Rehabilitation, Atrium Health
Formerly, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, NC

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2016 — 2018

Speech-Langauge Pathologist II

Carolinas Neurosciences Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC

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2016 — 2018

Speech-Langauge Pathologist - Clinical Fellow

Carolinas Rehabilitation, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC

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2015 — 2016

Grant Support

Audrey Holland Endowed Award: Determinants of multilevel discourse outcomes in anomia treatment for aphasia

Role: PI; Direct Costs: $2000

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2021 — 2023

1 F31 DC019853-01 NIH-NIDCD NRSA individual predoctoral fellowship: Determinants of multilevel discourse outcomes in anomia treatment for aphasia

Role: PI; Impact Score: 25
Sponsors: Michael Walsh Dickey & William S. Evans

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2021 — 2023

The University of Pittsburgh CTSI–Clinical and Translational Science Fellowship: Comparing Treatment Intensity between Research and Clinical Practice in Post-Stroke Aphasia

Role: Predoctoral Fellow
TL1TR001858 (PI: Kraemer)
Mentors: Michael Walsh Dickey, William S. Evans, & Catherine Palmer

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2019

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Development Fund

Role: PI; Direct Costs: $1000
Faculty Sponsor: William S. Evans

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2019

Publications

Boyle, M., Akers, C. M., Cavanaugh, R., Hula, W. D., Swiderski, A. M., & Elman, R. J. (2022). Changes in discourse informativeness and efficiency following communication-based group treatment for chronic aphasia. Aphasiology, 1-35.

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2022

Nguy, B., Quique, Y.M., Cavanaugh, R., Evans, William S. (In Press) Representation in aphasia research: an examination of US treatment studies published between 2009 and 2019. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology

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Cavanaugh R, Quique YM, Dickey MW, Hula WD, Boss E, & Evans WS (2022). Practice-Related Predictors of Semantic Feature Verification Treatment for Aphasia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00296

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Cavanaugh, R., Kravetz C., Jarold L., Quique Y., Turner R., & Evans, W.S. (2021). Is There a Research–Practice Dosage Gap in Aphasia Rehabilitation? American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 30(5), 2115–2129. 10.1044/2021_AJSLP-20-00257.

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2021

Evans W.S., Cavanaugh R., Quique Y, Boss E, Starns J.J., & Hula W.D. (2021). Playing With BEARS: Balancing Effort, Accuracy, and Response Speed in a Semantic Feature Verification Anomia Treatment Game. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_JSLHR-20-00543

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Kersey, J., Evans, W. S., Mullen, K., Askren, A., Cavanaugh, R., Wallace, S. E., Hula, W. D., Walsh Dickey, M., Terhorst, L., & Skidmore, E. (2021). Metacognitive Strategy Training Is Feasible for People With Aphasia. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492211023196

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Evans, W. S., Cavanaugh, R., Gravier, M. L., Autenreith, A. S., Doyle, P. J., Hula, W. D., Dickey Michael, W., & Dickey, M. W. (2020). Effects of Semantic Feature Type, Diversity, and Quantity on Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment Outcomes in Aphasia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-19-00112

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Cavanaugh, R.B., Haley, K.L. (2020) Subjective communication difficulties in very mild aphasia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(1S), 437–448. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_AJSLP-CAC48-18-0222

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2020

Refereed Presentations

Evans, W.S., Quique, Y.M., Cavanaugh, R, Lescht, E. (2021). Effects of adaptive distributed practice and stimuli variability in flashcard-based anomia treatment. Abstract for poster presentation, 59th Academy of Aphasia, Online

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2021

Cavanaugh, R. Quique, Y, Boss, E, Hula, W.D., and Evans, W.S. (2021). Practicing with BEARS: Active Ingredients in Semantic Feature Analysis. Abstract for poster presentation, 51st annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Online

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Evans, W.S., Cavanaugh, R., Quique, Y., Boss,E., Dickey, M.W., Doyle , P, Starns,J.J.,and Hula, W.D., (2021). BEARS-Balancing Effort, Accuracy, and Response Speed in semantic feature verification anomia treatment. Abstract for platform presentation, 50th annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Online..

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Quique,Y., Cavanaugh, R., Starns, J.J., Boss, E., Hula, W.D., and Evans, W.S. (2021). Estimating the speed-accuracy tradeoff “Sweet Spot” in language performance for people with aphasia: replication and extension of a diffusion-model based approach. Abstract for poster presentation, 50th annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Online.

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Boyle M, Akers C, Cavanaugh R., Hula WD, Swiderski A, Elman R. (2021) Changes in informativeness following communication-based group treatment for chronic aphasia
. Abstract for platform presentation, 50th annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Online.

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Akers, C, Boyle M, Swiderski A, Hula WD, Cavanaugh R., Elman R. (2021) Using complete utterances to measure change in conversational discourse following communication- based group treatment. Abstract for poster presentation, 51st annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Online

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Cavanaugh, R., Kravetz, C., Jarold, L., Quique, Y., Turner, R., Evans, W.S. (2021). Is there a research-practice dosage gap in aphasia rehabilitation? Abstract for poster presentation, Aphasia Access Leadership Summit, online.

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Nguy, B, Cavanaugh, R., Quique, Y, Evans, WS. (2021). Are Aphasia Research Participants Representative of the Post-Stroke Aphasia Population in the US? Abstract for poster presentation, Aphasia Access Leadership Summit. Online conference.

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Cavanaugh, R., Kravetz, C., Jarold, L., Quique, Y., Turner, R., Evans, W.S. (2020). Is there a research-practice dosage gap in aphasia rehabilitation? Abstract for poster presentation, 16th Annual Rehabilitation Institute Research Day. Pittsburgh, PA

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2020

Cavanaugh, R., Terhorst, L., Swiderski, A.W., Hula, W.D., Evans, W.S. (2020). A Systematic Appraisal of Individual Effect Sizes in Aphasia Single-Case Designs via Simulation. Abstract for poster presentation, 58th Academy of Aphasia, Philadelpha PA.

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Evans, WS, Cavanaugh, R., Quique, Y, Boss, E, Dickey, MW, Doyle, P, Starns, J, and Hula, W (2020). BEARS- Balancing Effort, Accuracy, and Response Speed in semantic feature verification anomia treatment. Abstract for platform presentation, annual Academy of Aphasia Conference (virtual online conference).

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Cavanaugh, R., Kravetz, C., Evans, W.S. Utilization and Disparities in Outpatient Aphasia Rehabilitation in Western Pennsylvania. Abstract for poster presentation, Pennsylvania Speech-Language Hearing Association Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA (Conference Canceled).

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Cavanaugh, R., Evans, W.S., Gravier, M., Autenreith, A., Ashmore, E., Doyle, P., Hula, W., Dickey, M.W., (2019). Do the kinds of features that patients generate during Semantic Feature Analysis affect treatment outcomes? Poster presented at the 2019 Clinical Aphasiology Conference in Whitefish, MT.

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2019

Cavanaugh, R.B., Haley, K.L. (2018) Subjective communication difficulties in very mild aphasia. Abstract for poster presentation, 48th annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference, Austin, TX.

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2018

Cavanaugh, R.B., & Haley, K. (2014, April) Accounting for Aphasia-Related Language Deficits in Verbal Working Memory Assessments: A Literature Review. Poster presented at the 2014 SPHS Student Research Day in Chapel Hill, NC.

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2014

Publications Under Review & Revision

Quique, Y.M., Cavanaugh R., Lescht, E., Evans, William S. (Under Review) Effects of adaptive distributed practice and stimuli variability in self-managed flashcard anomia treatment: a single-case experimental design.

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In Revision

Cavanaugh, R., Swiderski, A.M., Terhorst, L., Hula, W.D., Evans, William S. (In Revision) Comparing effect size measures in aphasia single-case experimental design research.

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In Revision

Teaching

SPHS-S 685: Research and Ethics in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (University of Indiana Bloomington; Dr. Brielle Stark)

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2021

  • Guest Lecture: Writing an NIH NRSA F31 Fellowship Application

CSD M.S. Summative Assessment Project

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  • Peer-review of M.S. - SLP students comprehensive exams

CSD 2230: Neurogenic Language and Cognitive Communication Disorders

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2020

  • Guest Lecture 1: TBI: Pathophysiology and Medical Considerations
  • Guest Lecture 2: Case studies in adult neurological communication disorders

SPHS 742: Aphasia (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Dr. Katarina Haley)

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  • Guest Lecture: Applying treatment research in clinical practice settings

CSD M.S. Summative Assessment Project

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  • Peer-review of M.S. - SLP students comprehensive exams

CSD 2230: Neurogenic Language and Cognitive Communication Disorders

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2019

  • Guest Lecture 1: TBI: Pathophysiology and Medical Considerations
  • Guest Lecture 2: Case studies in adult neurological communication disorders

CSD M.S. Summative Assessment Project

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N/A

  • Peer-review of M.S. - SLP students comprehensive exams

Honors and Awards

ANCDS Conference Student Fellowship

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2020

NIH-NIDCD Academy of Aphasia conference grant (R13 DC017375-01)

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2020

NIH-NIDCD Fellowship: Research Symposium in Clinical Aphasiology

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2019

Adult Communication Disorders Annual Scholarship, UNC-Chapel Hill

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2014

Robert W. Peters Award for excellence in research, UNC-Chapel Hill

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2014

Certification, Licensure, Memberships, and Service

Reviewer, ASHA Annual Convention: Adult Language Section

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2020

Member, Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences

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2020

CCC-SLP: American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA)

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2016

SLP: Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology, North Carolina

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2015

Member, ASHA SIG 2: Neurogenic Communication Disorders

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2015

Software

Cavanaugh, R., Swiderski, A.M., Fergadiotis, G. & Hula, W.D. (2022). pnt: Computer adaptive forms of the Philadelphia Naming Test. Version 0.0.0.9 Available from https://github.com/aphasia-apps/pnt.

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2022

Kowalski, J., and Cavanaugh R.B. (2021). TBDBr: Easy Access To TalkBankDB via R API. https://github.com/TalkBank/TalkBankDB-R, https://talkbank.github.io/TalkBankDB-R/.

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2021